breath ~ speak ~ breath

From Reece Mastin to Good Christian Bitches

Reece Mastin has won Australian X-Factor and as a 16-year-old with enormous talent and the world of fame and fortune falling at his feet, I can’t think of a better person to have in his life than Guy Sebastian. Let’s hope Guy remains a mentor and influence not only because of his musical ability but his strong Christian faith and integrity.

Nice guy Andrew Wishart was second by a margin of 1% in the voting and the likeable Johnny Ruffo finished third. No doubt he got a lot of support from Bayside Christian College, the school of his children Tully, Levii, Bahlin & Indiah.

And Channel 7 didn’t miss the moment to promote a new series for 2012, Good Christian Bitches. The series is based on a novel by Kim Gatlin about a divorced mother of two who seeks refuge in the neighbourhood she grew up in, turning to “those who love her and the faith she’s always known”. What she got, according to publicity about the book, was salacious gossip and cold-hearted, pretentious women trying to destroy her reputation.

In America the series has been promoted as Good Christian Belles – apparently bitches was too strong for US audiences, but not Australian.

At first glance it seems like yet another stereotypical assault on Christian values using shallow caricatures in place of real, nuanced people. But if the show actually, sincerely addresses the hypocrisy of cultural Christianity (I’m not holding my breath) it could present an opportunity for helping people discern faith in action from faith in plastic….

3 thoughts on “From Reece Mastin to Good Christian Bitches”

If you honestly think that there is anything worthwhile in a TV program such as ‘Good Christian Bitches’, then you’ve lost it not only as a man, but certainly where anything decent and Godly may be concerned.

Ouch! Strong words Frank, but thanks for your comment. A few thoughts:
The title of this show is appalling and so is the current promotional ad, and so as mentioned, I’m not holding my breath that there will be redeeming qualities. But as none of us have seen it all we have to go on is the book but I’m guessing is that none of us have read it – or at least not you an I Frank. But imagine this scenario – lots of people watch the show because of the publicity, the language doesn’t bother them (a lot of Aussies are tough talkers and this title is mild to them), it’s mainly junk American soapie style TV, but it shows the danger of gossip, slander hypocrisy and maybe there’s a positive Christian character who people relate to. All I left room for in this first, very early response to news this show was coming to our screens, was that for the thousands who will watch regardless of what you and I think Frank, there was the slim (I’m not holding my breath…) possibility that there might be some glimmer of a redemptive moment.
I’ve done another post discussing further, linking to a petition against the show and to Christianity Today’s editorial on the same topic. My posts are read by a wide audience and my goal is to try and provide news and ideas to get people to think, and not tell them what they should think.

Nice response to a critical comment, Peter. The book/show might surprise you and be something worthwhile. In Australia does the word “bitches” have the same negativity associated with it, as in the states? We are talking about a word, and the meanings and significance of words change over time.